"I respect Vande Mataram but can't read it as my religion says bow only to Allah": SP’s Abu Azmi

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 19 (ANI): Amid the ruckus created in the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday by BJP MLAs over a remark about Vande Mataram, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi said that he respects Vande Mataram but cannot read it.
While raising the issue of riots in the Sambhajinagar district, Azmi said that three people came in front of Ram Mandir and chanted the slogan that if one has to stay in this country one has to read 'Vande Mataram'.
This comes after a mob of more than 500 people allegedly attacked policemen on the intervening night of March 29 and 30 after some youths clashed among themselves. The incident, which lasted around an hour, occurred in the Kiradpura locality of Aurangabad city, now named Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, which has a famous Ram temple.
Azmi said, "I respect 'Vande Mataram' but can't read it because my religion says we can't bow down to anyone except 'Allah'. Supreme Court’s directives state that we need to respect the National Anthem."
"I respect the national anthem and I stand to show my respect but I do not sing," he added.
Reacting to Azmi's statement on 'Vande Mataram', BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the Samajwadi party is a part of I.N.D.I.A and those who keep India in their name, why their work is always anti-India?"
Poonawalla said, "Samajwadi party is a part of I.N.D.I.A. and its MLA says in the Maharashtra assembly that I will not say 'Vande Mataram', it is against my religion. They bow their heads in front of Aurangzeb but shy away from saying 'Vande Mataram', those who keep India in their name, why their work is always anti-India?"
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar also expressed distress at Azmi's statement over 'Vande Mataram' and said that no matter which religion one belongs to everyone should love and respect the country.
Rohit Pawar said, "I don't know his exact statement, however, no matter which religion one belongs to, everyone should love and respect the country. I believe that no one should speak against the country." (ANI)